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Restoration of Nu'utele and Nu'ulua Islands (Aleipata group), Samoa, through the management of introduced rats and ants

Available Online

Tye, A. & Butler, D. J.

Biodiversity hotspots : distribution and protection of conservation priority areas

Climate Change Resilience, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Habel, Jan Christian

Zachos, Frank E.

Abstract Global changes, from habitat loss and invasive species to anthropogenic climate change, have initiated the sixth great mass extinction event in Earth's history. As species become threatened and vanish, so too do the broader ecosystems and myriad benefits to human well-being that depend upon biodiversity. Bringing an end to global biodiversity loss requires that limited available resources be guided to those regions that need it most. The biodiversity hotspots do this based on the conservation planning principles of irreplaceability and vulnerability. Here, we review the development of the hotspots over the past two decades and present an analysis of their biodiversity, updated to the current set of 35 regions. We then discuss past and future efforts needed to conserve them, sustaining their fundamental role both as the home of a substantial fraction of global biodiversity and as the ultimate source of many ecosystem services upon which humanity depends.

Restoration of Nu'utele and Nu'ulua Islands (Aleipata Group), Samoa through the management of introduced rats and ants - CEPF final project completion report

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Tye, Alan

Denying entry: opportunities to build capacity to prevent the introduction of invasive species and improve biosecurity at US Ports

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Reaser, J.K.

Waugh, J

Invasive species (non-native, harmful organisms) undermine human health and safety, food and water security, and economic development. Consequently, invasive species can have significant socio-economic impacts and warrant attention as a public policy priority. Trade and travel are the primary drivers of biological invasion both into and within the United States and prevention measures have been identified as the most cost-effective means of minimizing the introduction and thus impact of invasive species.

Trade and invasive species in the Caribbean: a universe of risk

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Waugh, J.

Report on the invasive species in the Caribbean, by IUCN, documenting the environmental crises and how to manage impacts on the natural island biodiversity and carrying out successful eradication.

Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species : proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives

Available Online

Clout M.N.

Veitch C.R.

The effects of alien invasive species on biodiversity have been described as immense, insidious and usually irreversible (IUCN 2000). There is no doubt that invasive species can cause severe economic and ecological damage (Mack et al. 2000). They may soon surpass habitat loss as the main cause of ecological disintegration globally (Vitousek et al. 1997, Chapin et al. 2000) and are probably already the main cause of extinctions in island ecosystems. The breaching of biogeographic boundaries by the widespread, recent human transport of species has caused rapid and radical change in biological communities, including multiple extinctions. To minimise further extinctions and other ecological changes, the most important priority is to reduce the risks of new invasions. After prevention, the next priority is to eradicate existing invasive species, where this is possible. These aims are embodied in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which states that parties to this convention should prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate, those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species.

Restoration of Nu'utele & Nu'ulua islands, Samoa.: 1.0 Eradication of Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) : draft project plan

Available Online

Butler David J.

The islands of Nu'utele and Nu'ulua have been identified as highly significant sites for conservation in Samoa. They hold large populations of species currently found nowhere else in the country' including threatened land-birds, seabirds and nesting turtles. They also are the only offshore islands large enough and far enough offshore to be considered as refuges for several of the nation's species threatened on the larger islands by introduced mammalian pests. Such refuges have assumed greater importance as recent severe cyclones (Ofa - 1990, Val - 1991 & Heta - 2004) have reduced bird and bat numbers.

Restoration of Nu'utele & Nu'ulua, Aleipata islands, Samoa protection of friendly ground dove during proposed rat eradication / D.J. Butler

Available Online

Butler, D.J.

For one of the species potentially at some risk of poisoning under the proposed rat eradication regime, the Friendly Ground Dove, Nuutele and Nuulua hold populations that are nationally significant. The complete loss of these populations would threaten the survival of the taxon in Samoa. Some authors consider the Samoan doves to be a separate race (Gallicolumba s. stairi) from those in Fiji and Tonga (Watling, 2001). Outside Samoa, the race is only found on the small island of Ofu, American Samoa where it is threatened. So the loss of Nuutele and Nu'ulua birds could threaten the race with extinction.

Conservation of kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) in the Cook Islands in 2005/06

Available Online

Robertson Hugh A

Saul Edward K

In 1989, the kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) was one of the ten rarest bird species in the world, with a declining population of just 29 birds in the Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA) of southeastern Rarotonga. As a result of conservation management, the kakerori population rebounded, with up to 300 birds being recorded on Rarotonga and Atiu in 2004/05. The southern Cook Islands was, however, hit by five tropical cyclones over a 4-week period in FebruaryMarch 2005, and much of the forest on exposed faces, spurs and ridges (traditional kakerori habitat) was severely damaged. The population survived remarkably well, with a minimum of 274 adults known to be alive in the TCA in August 2005. An additional 17 adults were found on Atiu between August 2005 and March 2006. The main\ casualties of the cyclones on Rarotonga appeared to be young birds (13 years old) and very old birds (> 20 years old). Because the population on Rarotonga remained well within the management target of 250300 individuals, rat poisoning was again done fortnightly, as in the previous 2 years. Breeding productivity was exceptionally poor in 2005/06, mainly because of nesting failures or early fledgling deaths caused by abnormally wet conditions during the main fledging periods. Nests were more exposed to the elements because the cyclones had extensively defoliated the canopy. Furthermore, rats were often seen foraging during the day, apparently struggling to find food (few trees were fruiting). Only 22 fledglings were definitely seen in 2005/06; however, some territories were not checked or poorly checked during the breeding season, and some fledglings may have dispersed to better vegetated sites. We recommend that rat control should return to the weekly poisoning regime used during the 19892001 recovery phase of the kakerori management programme if the August 2006 census reveals that the population has fallen below 220 birds (a 20% decline from pre-cyclone levels). Otherwise the regime of the sustainable management phase (fortnightly poisoning) should continue.

Conservation of kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) in the Cook Islands in 2004/05

Available Online

Robertson Hugh A

Saul Edward K

In 1989, the kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) was one of the ten rarest bird species in the world, with a declining population of just 29 birds living in south-eastern Rarotonga. As a result of conservation management, the kakerori population has rebounded, with a minimum of 281 birds on Rarotonga and 19 birds on Atiu in summer 2004/05. Since 2001, the emphasis of management in the Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA) on Rarotonga has shifted from the recovery of kakerori to sustaining the population at 250300 individuals. In 2004/05, all rat bait stations were filled fortnightly, and so the labour costs were reduced by 30% to 34 person days, and toxin use (57 kg of Talon®active ingredient brodifacoum) was reduced 81% from the peak year during the recovery phase. Kakerori breeding productivity was unusually high in 2004/05 because several pairs raised two broods. In the poisoned area, apparent breeding success was significantly higher (1.35 fledglings/breeding territory) than in the unpoisoned area (0.55 fledglings/ breeding territory); however, this difference was at least partly due to more effort being spent searching for fledglings in poisoned areas. A minimum of 59 fledglings was detected in 2004/05; however, some territories were not checked during the breeding season, and then a series of five tropical cyclones struck Rarotonga in a 4-week period in February/March 2005, which halted our fledgling searches, and caused severe damage to some habitat in the TCA. We expect that many kakerori perished during these cyclones; however, the population on Atiu, which was only affected by two of the five cyclones, survived unscathed. These catastrophic weather events highlighted the vulnerability of single-island endemic birds, and underlined the value of establishing an insurance population on Atiu. We recommend that the poisoning regime should return to that used during the recovery phase of the kakerori management programme if the August 2005 census reveals that the population has fallen below 220 birds (a 20% decline), otherwise the recent programme of fortnightly poisoning should continue.

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